CM for minimising generation cost and marketing for earning revenue

Shimla, Jul 14 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today emphasised the need for minimising generation cost and direct marketing to the consumer states to earn additional revenue.

The financial position of the state had improved tremendously with fiscal management and discipline with HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB) generating surplus revenue for the last few years, he said while addressing the first annual general meeting of the HPSEB employee union at Palampur.

Mr Singh said his government was committed for reviving all the loss making PSUs and make them financially viable and self sustainable.

Referring to his cordial relations the employees of the state, he said Himachal was one of the first state's to implement the recommendations of Fifth Pay Commission and delivered financial benefits of over Rs 840 crore to them.

Besides, Himachal was the only state in the country to carry out regularization of daily wagers who had completed eight years of service on March 31, 2006, benefiting over 50,000 daily wagers in different departments and PSUs.

He said daily wagers in Forest Corporation and Ayurveda department would also be regularized and deployed in other departments.

The HPSEB had also been entrusted with the execution of Rs 322 crore APDRP programme aimed at improving the power supply and providing quality power to the consumers, he said.

The Chief Minster said that the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Programme of the Centre was supplementing the endeavour of the state government towards bringing about reforms in electric supply.

A sum of Rs four crore would be spent on strengthening power supply network in Mcleodganj, Palampur and Kangra towns in a phased manner, he said.

He said out of 20,793 MW total identified hydel potential in the state, only 6,370 MW had been exploited while additional 5,605 MW was being harnessed under Joint Venture, State and Private Sectors.

Efforts were for harnessing its identified hydel potential and in the HPSEB can play a pivotal role, he added.

Mr Singh also announced creation of 50 posts of ITI qualified JEs., upgradation of 10 posts of Fitters (Hydro Mechanics) to JEs.

(Hydro Mechanics), Employment Assistance Scheme and other non-technical categories which did not have minimum educational qualification to get increment with immediate effect.

UNI